If you own a wood-burning fireplace anywhere in Lake Oswego, Portland, West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Sherwood, Happy Valley, or Cedar Hills, you already know the comfort a fire brings on cold Oregon nights. But what most homeowners don’t know is that the most dangerous threat to their fireplace has nothing to do with the weather, the chimney cap, or even the amount of wood they burn.
The quiet problem hiding inside thousands of chimneys across Oregon is Stage 2 and Stage 3 creosote a hardened, fuel-like substance that cannot be brushed away and should never be treated with aggressive rotary systems or “one-time chemical removals.”
That’s where Metro Chimney PDX, based in Lake Oswego, does things differently. We’ve spent decades refining a method that removes heavy creosote without damaging the flue, without gimmicks, and without the false promises that many Portland-area chimney companies make.
This blog explains the real way Metro Chimney PDX handles hardened creosote safely, slowly, and scientifically.
What Makes Stage 2 & 3 Creosote So Dangerous?
When wood burns, the smoke carries oils, moisture, and organic compounds. As the smoke cools, it condenses into creosote. Stage 1 creosote is fluffy and brushable easy to sweep out.
But Stage 2 and Stage 3?
They’re a completely different animal.
Stage 2 creosote:
- Looks flaky and shiny
- Hardens tightly to the flue
- Skates under brushes
- Becomes a semi-solid tar layer
Stage 3 creosote:
- Thick, glassy, rock-like coating
- Looks like hardened black varnish
- Extremely flammable
- Can burn at temperatures exceeding 2,000°F
- Cannot be scraped without damaging the liner
This is where most companies get it wrong or intentionally mislead customers.
Why “One-Time Creosote Removal Treatments” Are a Scam
If you’ve been quoted $3,000–$5,000 for a “one-time anti-creosote treatment,” you were almost certainly being sold a gimmick.
These treatments promise to dissolve Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote instantly, but:
- Creosote cannot be dissolved quickly
- Harsh chemicals can corrode tiles and metal flues
- Rotary chains or drills can crack the liner
- The buildup often looks the same weeks later
Metro Chimney PDX has inspected countless chimneys after homeowners paid for these treatments, and the results are nearly always the same:
The creosote is still there unchanged.
And in some cases, the liner is now damaged.
So How Does Metro Chimney PDX Actually Treat Hardened Creosote?
This is where our process differs from every shortcut and scam in the Portland area.
We don’t blast creosote with acids.
We don’t grind it off with chains.
We don’t sell miracle chemicals.
We don’t upsell “instant removal” packages.
Instead, we use a safe chemical conversion method that works over time because that’s the only way Stage 2 and Stage 3 creosote can be treated without damaging the flue.
Here’s exactly how we do it.
Step 1 Identify the Type and Severity of Creosote
We begin with a detailed inspection visually and physically checking the condition of the flue. Once we confirm the presence of Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote, we explain the findings clearly to the homeowner.
We don’t exaggerate the danger.
We don’t minimize the problem.
We show exactly what’s happening and why it matters.
This transparency is one reason Lake Oswego and Portland homeowners trust Metro Chimney PDX.
Step 2 Instruct the Homeowner on the Correct Anti-Creosote Spray
Metro Chimney PDX does not use or sell anti-creosote spray.
Instead, we:
- Tell homeowners which spray is the best
- Explain where to buy it
- Show exactly how to use it every fire
This matters because only consistent use of the spray can convert hardened creosote over time.
The correct method:
- Spray each piece of firewood 10–12 times
- Wait 10 minutes
- Start your fire, or add the prepared wood to an existing fire
- Repeat every fire you burn
This sends treated smoke up the flue, where it gently coats the hardened creosote and begins the slow conversion process.
This isn’t a quick fix.
It’s the right fix.
Step 3 Conversion Begins (No Damage to the Flue)
As the treated smoke flows upward, the chemical vapor reacts with the Stage 2 or Stage 3 creosote. Over several weeks:
- The creosote expands
- Its bond to the flue weakens
- It becomes lighter in density
- It transforms into a non-flammable, non-acidic, brushable substance
This process protects:
- Flue tiles
- Masonry
- Metal liners
- Heat shields
- Clay joints
No drilling.
No grinding.
No aggressive mechanical systems.
Nothing that destroys the chimney.
This is why Metro Chimney PDX is one of the only companies in Oregon still performing chimney cleaning the correct way.
Step 4 For Severe Buildup: A 1–2 Month Deep Cleaning Regimen
When we find heavy or extreme creosote buildup, we prescribe a specific burning regimen that lasts 1–2 months.
During this period, Metro Chimney PDX:
- Teaches you which firewood to buy
- Shows you how to prepare it
- Provides daily instructions
- Ensures you’re using the spray correctly
- Explains how long to burn each fire
Fires must be burned daily or nightly for a few hours to convert the deep layers.
After this regimen, we check the flue again. If we visually confirm significant improvement, we schedule a follow-up cleaning.
Only then can the converted material be safely brushed away.
Step 5 Second Cleaning Removes What Used to Be Unbrushable
Once the conversion is complete, Stage 2 and Stage 3 creosote has transformed into:
- A soft, chalky residue
- A brittle, easily breakable substance
- A non-flammable, non-acidic material
Now the chimney can be cleaned completely without harming the flue.
Step 6 Prevention Going Forward (The Part Most Companies Ignore)
Once the creosote is managed, we teach homeowners:
- How to burn cleaner
- What wood to avoid
- How often to clean
- How to keep buildup from returning
- How to use the anti-creosote spray with every fire
This is long-term chimney care not a sales pitch.
Why This Method Works (And Others Don’t)
Stage 2 and Stage 3 creosote cannot be ripped off the flue safely.
It must be converted, not removed aggressively.
Metro Chimney PDX’s method works because:
- It protects the flue
- It uses safe chemistry
- It takes time, which creosote conversion requires
- It keeps the homeowner involved
- It avoids unnecessary damage
- It prevents new buildup from forming
And most importantly:
It’s honest.
No gimmicks. No shortcuts. No false promises.
Just real chimney science, real transparency, and real results.
Why Homeowners Across Portland Choose Metro Chimney PDX
If you’re in:
- Lake Oswego
- West Linn
- Tigard
- Tualatin
- Beaverton
- Sherwood
- Happy Valley
- Cedar Hills
- Or any surrounding Portland metro city
Metro Chimney PDX gives you chimney care the way it used to be done properly, with all steps included, and no hidden upcharges.
We are one of the last companies in the region that:
- Vacuums the smoke shelf EVERY cleaning
- Uses a correct, safe creosote conversion method
- Rejects “one-time” scams
- Teaches customers how their chimney actually works
- Charges honestly
- Treats heavy creosote safely, without harming the flue
You don’t need a miracle cure.
You need a process that works.
Metro Chimney PDX is that process.
FAQs
Q1: Why can’t Stage 2 and Stage 3 creosote be brushed away?
Because it hardens into tar-like or glassy residue. Brushes glide over it without removing anything.
Q2: Does Metro Chimney PDX apply anti-creosote spray?
No. We instruct homeowners on which spray to buy and how to use it every fire for safe chemical conversion.
Q3: How long does the conversion process take?
Several weeks for moderate buildup; 1–2 months for severe cases, followed by a second cleaning.
Q4: Will this process damage my flue?
No. Our method avoids aggressive rotary tools or acids that can crack or weaken the liner.
Q5: Do you serve areas outside Lake Oswego?
Yes West Linn, Tigard, Tualatin, Beaverton, Sherwood, Happy Valley, Cedar Hills, plus the wider Portland metro area including Clackamas, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Canby, Woodburn, Forest Grove, and more.